In His Hand is Life (Job 12:10)
I. The Bible shows forth God’s hand in creation.
A. Creation is presented as a matter of fact by the biblical writers. Through all of Holy Scriptures this identical theme runs concurrently with other themes. To the inspired writers, God said, “Let there be,” and it was so. To these writers, we are the product of His creative hand.
Read Genesis 1; Exodus 20:11; Isaiah 45:12; Isaiah 48:13; Acts 7:49-50; Hebrews 1:10.
B. Creation by God is accepted throughout Scripture as a matter of fact. At no time is there an attempt to harmonize His creating with other philosophies of the world’s beginning as many do in trying to harmonize Creation and evolution. The inspired writers accepted already at that time the universally accepted “law of biogenesis” which means that life must come forth from life. This thought can give new meaning to the Bible’s statement that, “without Him (Jesus) nothing was made” (John 1:3) and His own statement, “I am…the Life” (John 14:6).
Read Job 10:8; Job 12:10; Psalm 19:1; Psalm 33:6-9; Psalm 95:5; Isaiah 64:8; Acts 17:28;
Hebrews 3:4.
II. The Bible demonstrates God’s judgmental hand over creation.
A. God’s judgmental hand as displayed in the Old Testament is not only evidence of His control over creation, it is a powerful statement of His ownership of it resulting from having created it. We can see this ownership and control demonstrated at many times in Scripture. We see it when sin entered the world and later “filled” the world.
1. At the advent of sin: Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 5.
2. When the flood released God’s wrath: Genesis 6:5-7; Genesis 7:23; 2 Peter 3:3-6.
B. For Christians who are able to “read” the evidence (Luke 19:40) the stones do cry out as Jesus said. The evidence is abundant that at one time the entire world was a “garden of Eden.” It is not so today. The judgmental hand of God can be seen in the world’s present condition and the fact that it is “wearing” down (Hebrews 1:11-12). This is in keeping with the second law of thermodynamics which tells us that useable forms and sources of energy are diminishing. Therefore we see the present effects of sin and judgment as well as the end of this world as we know it.
1. The effects of God’s judgmental hand against sin: Genesis 9:2, 5; Isaiah 5:25;
Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:20-22.
2. This world’s termination when our Lord returns: Matthew 3:12; Matthew 24:35; Hebrews 1:10-12; 2 Peter 3:7,10.
III. The Bible asks God’s people to recognize His loving hand and to ` respond.
A. Because God has preserved for us a world that is still beautiful, in spite of sin, it is only natural for Him to want us to acknowledge Him as the builder and giver of all that makes up our earthly home. For God’s people, one opportunity to do that is in our public worship service.
1. By proclaiming Him as the builder: Psalm 8:3-5; Psalm 95:3-7; Psalm 102:25-27; Psalm 143:5; Hebrews 1:10.
2. By giving him praise and expressing gratitude: Psalm 95:1-3; Psalm 118:1-4; Matthew 4:8-10; Acts 2:42; Acts 2:46-47; I Thessalonians 5:17-18; Hebrews 10:19-25.
B. As people become more aware of the limitation of our natural resources (even unbelievers) we have become more conscious of what we do have and also what we could lose. It is therefore within the realm of Christian stewardship that we respond to His good gifts by using them all in “thank-filled” ways that express our gratitude and appreciation for them. This does not mean that we “run away” from using but use with thanksgiving on our lips. The statement of Genesis 1:26 is still valid today.
1. We can use all that He has created: Genesis 1:28-29; Genesis 41:47-49; Matthew 26:6-12; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5:8.
2. But we should not abuse anything He has created: Matthew 6:33; John 6:12; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 1 Timothy 6:17-18.
IV. The Bible invites us to trust in His outstretched hands.
A. Whether it is the outstretched hands of the father in the story of the prodigal son, or Jesus’ words, “not to give thought to tomorrow,” or His simple invitation, “Come unto Me,” there is one overarching characteristic of God that He wants us to know about Himself: God loves us and provides for us. That will not change. We do not have to worry about the sky falling or for that matter the ozone layer blowing away, global warming, or any other imagined worldwide catastrophe. God is in control. He was, is, and will be to the end.
1. He sustains the entire world system: Genesis 8:22; Genesis 9:11-17; 1 Chronicles 16:30; Psalm 95:3-5; Job 38:4-11; Acts 17:28.
2. He will take care of our own needs: Psalm 138:7; Matthew 6:28-32; Romans 8:31-32; Philippians 4:19.
B. But, just how much does God love us? That question has been answered for all time and for all people in the outstretched hands of Jesus on the cross. Just how much? God was willing to sacrifice His only Son to see that His law would be kept and He would remain “just” in regard to the keeping of His own law. But in paying the penalty, Himself, for our breaking of the law, He would become both the “just and the justifier” (Romans 3:26). What a beautiful idea God had, and therefore it was for “the joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus endured the cross. That joy becomes ours knowing we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. That grace then gives us the peace, of which the Christmas angels sang, “with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Therefore we can count on His loving hands to provide for our spiritual needs now, in the future, and forever.
1. Forgiveness in this life: John 3:16; Romans 5:1, 6-10,19; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:11-14; 1 John 1:7-9; 1 John 2:2.
2. Heaven when our life is over: Psalm 98:1; John 17:24; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 John 5:11-13.
3. Happiness forever: Psalm 16:11; Malachi 4:2-3; John 15:11; Jude 24-25; Revelation 7:13-17
And to Him be the Glory!